September 2025

After cleaning Jack's room, it was ready for Patrick to move in.  I wanted a picture of how nice it looked before another teenager moved into it.

Jim's band played at the St. Louis Art Fair.

Their name was listed on the lineup for the Main Stage.

Jim's and Paul's mom came to support her favorite sons.

For his birthday, we gave Charlie a scooter.

The birthday boy requested dinner at Culvers.

Happy 14th birthday, Charlie!

We went to a garage concert at my aunt's and uncle's house that evening.

Maggie and Patrick were exhausted and fell asleep on the couch before the party was over.

One Friday evening, Jim suggested we ride bikes/scooters to Grant's Farm for their Oktoberfest celebration.

We were entertained by a polka band and a fun lady photobombed our picture.

We celebrated Charlie's birthday with the family that weekend. He requested ice cream cake.

These handsome guys are ready for cotillion.

We went up to visit Jack at Notre Dame.  It was so good to see him!

Nana was excited to see him, too!

Jack showed off his dorm to his siblings.

We visited Ryan's dorm. It might be the same room Jim lived in many years ago.

Jim sang with the Glee Club before the football game while the rest of us watched (and some sang along).

We watched the players' walk.  You can see Charlie in the left and Marcus Freeman in the right of the picture below.

Maggie's school friend was at the game because her mom was being honored as a former female ND athlete.

It was fun to be together the one semester Jack and Ryan were both at Notre Dame.

You can't tell from these pictures, but a big storm came in later and we had to evacuate the stadium before the game was over (we were allowed back in after it passed).

Maggie did LOTS of push ups!

Because of the weather delay, we were at the game late.  Some of us went back early and got dinner ready.  Jim and Charlie got this fun picture.

Jack came back to the house we rented for dinner.  Jim and I were happy to snuggle with him.

Charlie and Maggie were exhausted after a long day.

On Sunday morning, we went to mass on campus and then took a few pictures.

Jack showed us where he does his radio show.

We met up with Reagan for a quick hello.

Back home, Jim taught Charlie how to change an outlet.  Future electrician?

Jim played at a SLUH celebration.

The celebration coincided with Jim's 30th high school reunion.  I was able to catch up with several grade school friends.

The next day, Jim's band played at the parish Bratfest. 

August 2025

In early August, Jack's girlfriend came over to put makeup on him so he could dress as David Bowie for a party.

She did a great job!

Jim's band put on an outdoor concert at Paul's house.

Maggie's ukulele teacher often gives her fun instruments to try. 

A new coffee shop opened in our neighborhood and we checked it out one weekend morning. 

The 8th graders hosted a Glow Bingo Night to raise funds for the year.  Charlie helped work the event. 

We had a pretty fun table!

The 8th graders participated in the traditional Amazing Race.

Charlie's team won!

The first day of 6th grade. When Maggie grows up, she wants to be an artist.

My first day of teaching this school year.

Charlie's first day of 8th grade. When he grows up, he wants to be an adult.

The last first day of being at the same school for these two.

Several of the 6th grade girls:

The 8th graders:

Patrick's first day of 10th grade. When he grows up, he wants to be a computer engineer. 

I get to ride to school with these two most days.

Per tradition, we went out for ice cream the night of the first day of school.  We saw a rainbow in the parking lot.

We were bummed Jim couldn't join us.

Jim and I played pickleball one night and my face slid along the court after I attempted to get to a ball. It left a mark. 

I was free first period and was able to see Maggie cantor at the all school Mass before going to work.

Maggie and her friend decorated the minivan for our trip to drop Jack at school.

Karaoke in the living room is always fun!

Just look at how much fun Charlie is having!

We were leaving really early in the morning, so Jack said good-bye to his siblings the night before. He is wearing a world map jacket that used to belong to my grandfather. 

We arrived and got his dorm room put together. 

There were several events welcoming the students to campus. 

We got to eat dinner at the stadium.

While Jack was doing fun things with his new classmates, Jim and I went to a few places he frequented when he was in college.

The next day we met up with Ryan for lunch. Jack and Ryan overlapped at ND for just one semester. 

Jack was busy so Jim and I spent a bit of time on campus by ourselves. 

We said good-bye to Jack after Mass.

That night we met friends of friends for dinner.

At the end of August, Jim went to Colorado to go backpacking with friends.

They went to the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, just south of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The hike in on the first day started out beautifully. They got some great views of Arapahoe Peak and Arapahoe Glacier.

Later the first day, they got drenched and scrambled to find a place to camp. 

It rained through the night and the tent Jim was in leaked. He had water dripping on him throughout the night and it soaked his sleeping bag. The next morning, the weather did not look much better, and they decided to hike back out.

They hiked out through "thunderhail!"

They made it out safely and celebrated in nearby Nederland with some good food, drink, and music.

With a free day the next day, Kitty and Keith took Jim on a beautiful hike near Denver, at the Mayhem Gulch Trail.

The weekend was capped with a mini Glee Club reunion for an ND-Miami game watch at Jim friend's Johnny's house in Eerie, CO

While Jim was in Colorado, the kids were chosen to bring up the gifts at the Saturday evening Mass.  I felt a little silly taking a picture, but wanted to remember it.

After Mass, we met friends for dinner at the pool.

We visited Grandma and enjoyed the game room!